Sign kids up for after-school sports, take them to the library for homework (walk or bike if possible) or walk the dog together. Be creative—you're competing with the marketing strategists of the latest video games!

Limit kids' exposure to violence.

Exposure to violence has been shown to create stress, anxiety and other symptoms in children, and to be a factor in children's own hostile and violent behavior.

Check warning labels and age recommendations on video and computer games. Use blocks on computers and televisions so young kids can't view inappropriate sites or channels; monitor what kids are viewing.

Talk about significant world and family events.

Children may blame themselves for divorce, accidents or even deaths, and often misconstrue what they overhear but don't thoroughly understand. The result can be stress, insomnia or other negative symptoms.

School-age children shouldn't watch disturbing news coverage alone. They need your adult knowledge and experience to put things in perspective, and assurance that you are there to protect and care for them. Practice and encourage open communication.

Exemplify the behaviors you seek.

Kids do as you do, not as you say.

Surround your children with role models whose lives you respect and admire—your kids will have many resources to draw from.